Apparatus for drying grain

Abstract

A hydraulic torque convertor is disclosed which is particularly well-adapted for use with an apparatus for drying grain. The apparatus for drying grain comprises a conical shaped perforated floor which is mounted in a conventional grain drying bin in a raised position relative to the base floor thereof. The perforated floor has a plurality of grain discharge openings formed adjacent the outer ends thereof, each of which are selectively closed by a trap door valve means. An electric motor is operatively connected to the hydraulic torque convertor which is operatively connected to the valve means for moving the valve means between open and closed positions responsive to the temperature of the grain positioned on the floor. The hydraulic torque convertor comprises a disc shaped rotor which is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor. A housing rotatably embraces the end of the output shaft and the rotor and is operatively connected to a horizontally disposed shaft extending therefrom. The rotor has a plurality of spaced apart fins on the periphery thereof. The housing has a plurality of spaced apart fins provided on the interior peripheral surface thereof which are positioned outwardly of the rotor fins. The rotor has less fins than does the housing which serves as a gear reduction. The housing is partially filled with hydraulic fluid. Rotation of the rotor by the electric motor causes the fluid to be moved towards the periphery of the rotor by centrifugal force which causes the housing to be rotated which in turn causes the shaft connected thereto to also be rotated. The horizontally extending shaft is connected, by a chain, to a rotatable drum having an elongated flexible cable wound thereon and extending therefrom to the valve means to cause the operation of the same. A pair of stop elements are provided on the cable for limiting the movement of the cable.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for drying granular material in a grain bin having an enclosure forming wall, a roof mounted over the wall, and a base floor for the wall, the apparatus comprising: a floor mounted in the upper part of the bin, said floor being inclined and sloping downwardly from the center of the bin toward and in contacting relation with the wall whereby granular material disposed on said floor is normally prevented from falling onto said base floor, said floor having a plurality of spaced apart openings formed therein adjacent said wall through which the granular material can fall,   a valve means positioned below each of said openings and being movable between open and closed positions to permit granular material to fall through said openings and to prevent granular material from falling through said openings respectively,   means for opening and closing said valve means including a motor having an output shaft, a counterweight operatively connected to said valve means, and a hydraulic torque convertor means operatively connecting said output shaft and said counterweight,   means for supplying drying air within the bin and below said floor,   a thermostat means on said floor for sensing the temperature of the granular material thereon,   said thermostat means being operatively connected to said means for opening and closing said valve means so that said valve means will be opened when said thermostat means senses a first predetermined temperature and so that said valve means will be closed when said thermostat means senses a second predetermined temperature.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for opening and closing said valve means comprises an electric motor having an output shaft, a second shaft disposed in a parallel, and spaced apart end-to-end relationship with respect to said output shaft, a hydraulic torque convertor means operatively connecting said output shaft and said second shaft so that rotation of said output shaft will cause the rotation of said second shaft, a third shaft disposed in a parallel relationship to said second shaft, means connecting said second and third shafts so that rotation of said second shaft will cause the rotation of said third shaft, a drum means mounted on said third shaft for rotation therewith, a flexible cable means wound upon said drum means and having first and second cable lengths extending therefrom, a support means secured to said first cable length, a plurality of flexible members connected to said support and said valve means so that rotation of said drum means in one direction will cause said valve means to open and so that rotation of said drum means in an opposite direction will cause said valve means to close, and a counterweight means secured to said second cable length which is moved upwardly when said drum means is rotated in said one direction. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said valve means comprises a valve member having inner and outer ends and being pivotally secured at its outer end to said bin and extending radially inwardly therefrom, the outer end of said valve member being disposed below one of said openings, the inner end of said valve member being connected to said means for opening and closing said valve means. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for opening and closing said valve means comprises a hydraulic torque convertor, said convertor comprising a power means having a drive shaft extending therefrom, a substantially flat rotor operatively secured to said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said rotor having a plurality of spaced apart fins secured thereto at the periphery thereof, a housing rotatably mounted on said drive shaft and enclosing said rotor, said housing having a plurality of spaced apart fins provided therein which are spaced radially outwardly of the fins on said rotor, an output shaft secured to said housing for rotation therewith, and fluid in said housing to provide a fluid coupling between said rotor and housing so that rotation of said rotor by said drive shaft will cause the rotation of said housing.